Recently, the common opinion that Chechnya is a dangerous place to visit has been virtually overcome.
Rail Vakhitov, born in Bashkiria and currently living in Naberezhnye Chelny, named his book “Memoirs of a Deaf-mute”. Here is one of his reminiscences. “I was invited by the head of Shelkovo district department of culture Israpil Salgiriyev to visit his home. While he was helping his wife in the kitchen, I was having a good look at a beautiful dagger hanging above the armchair I was sitting in. Israpil entered the room and saw me looking at the dagger. He took it from the wall and gave it to me immediately. When I tried to refuse, he said that, in accordance with Chechen customs, the master of the house must give the guest anything he likes. The guest must accept the gift. Otherwise he’ll offend the master”.
Chechens have always followed the ancient customs of hospitality. In 1930's, when the famine burst out in the Ukraine, people went to all parts of the country in search of subsistence. Many Ukrainians went to the Caucasus. Then many Chechen families gave shelter and food to the migrants. Many of the Ukrainians stayed in Chechnya.
According to legend, the forefather of the Chechens, Nokhchuo, was born with a piece of iron, symbolizing bellicosity, in one hand, and a piece of cheese, symbolizing hospitality, in the other. Many Nakh proverbs are devoted to hospitality: “Where no guest comes, no bliss comes either”, “A guest in the house is happiness”, “The longer the way of the guest to your house was, the dearer the guest is”.
The Chechens say that guests and hospitality are “berkat”(well-being).
Timur Utsayev. Grozny, exclusively to VK.
